By Dalyn Weller, @DalynWeller
Some of us grew up in homes with a spring-cleaning ritual. Sometime in March our house got a scrub and polish until Mom was satisfied. This included taking everything we owned outside on the front lawn for the neighbors to see. We washed walls and windows and organized closets. We hated it. But after the elbow grease was applied, we sat on the sofa, admired our work, and we felt good about how everything looked and smelled.
I think serious, committed writers should think about a good spring-cleaning ritual once a year, too. It’s a professional courtesy to make sure your website/blog/social media pages are all up to date and the links work.
If your head shot is from ten years ago and nobody associates the photo with you when they see you in person, it might be time for the painful prospect of an update.
A little spit & shine can be motivating. We’ve all been told in the writing community that re-branding is dangerous for our careers. But I think it’s wise to consider a refresh every now and again. People do judge a book by its cover. And an author by their website and social media presence.
I like a pretty package. Just one reason indie publishing is my lane. I keep myself inspired and fresh with visuals. I use my iPad to create SEQs for my characters with photos and graphics. I create vision boards for each novel and series. I spiff up my branding once a year.
While a radical change isn’t advisable, small tweaks of font, color, or graphics are eye-catching. You might fine tune your logo and/or tag line. That bit of creative endeavor might just give you a refresh and help inspire you.
Visual appeal grabs attention in a fully saturated market. Your wonderful stories will hold that attention. Curb appeal will cause your readers to take a second look and that’s never bad.
As Jim Rubart says, “Love me or hate me but never forget me.” (I’ve heard him say it several times so this quote might not be the official version. <grin>)
Like it or not, we must all do marketing these days. A well-packaged product is part of your gift to your readers. Don’t be shy about checking out other author’s websites in your genre. Something may spark inspiration.
Here’s a little checklist (we like those, right?) to help you give your author image a spit & shine.
(This is assuming you have all the things)
- Make sure your website’s navigation and internal links all work and that they are up to date. Check and double check your links. Check your links on linktr.ee and anywhere else you have your links.
- Look things over with a critical eye: are your colors/graphics/logo outdated?
- It doesn’t hurt to apply a fresh coat of paint to your accounts. Oftentimes they are the only way people “meet” you these days. I’m a logo addict and I was surprised that not everyone in my writing community knew that Etsy.com has thousands of amazing, inexpensive artists available to make you stand out. A pre-made, customizable, top-notch logo can be nabbed for under $20. I just paid $50 for a customized logo with copyright and commercial use.
- Really.
- Make sure your bio is current. Things change.
- Head over to your Amazon author page (please tell me you have one) and spruce those up. * You should have one for each country in which your books are sold.
- Consider author/book swag. Just for fun you could take your newly polished logo and tagline and have stickers, pens, bookmarks, keychains, or even jewelry made for giveaways and books signing goodies. (I know many authors who get posters of their book covers made for their own walls. Fun! Check out Etsy, Vista print, or a local print shop. (*A little swag never hurt anybody.)
- Know your target audience and consider them. But… give them a bit of yourself. Let your personality shine. Again, there’s the saturated market thing…
- Double check and refresh the copy editing. Look for typos. (You’d be surprised)
- Consider if you need to rethink your website menu navigation.
- Hitch your wagon to another author or group. Maybe this is the year you write for a group blog? Add a Podcast or YouTube channel to your offerings?
We all wish to be known. God created us like that. Your readers want to know you and by becoming more appealing to them, they see they are known by you.
Polish your image once a year. It’s part of being a good steward of your writing ministry. Have fun with it!
The Rancher’s Surprise Second Chance, Book 1 in the Apple Valley Ranchers Series Coming 2022
Molly Halverson left home with a broken heart and a secret. Now she’s back in Apple Valley, a single mom in need of a job. But the only job available in her small hometown is for the man who trampled her heart and has no idea he fathered her child. He doesn’t deserve to know, and Molly doesn’t want to risk him finding out.
Eight years ago, Cody McClure came home from the summer rodeo circuit with a surprise pregnant wife even though he’d promised to marry his high school sweetheart. Now he’s the single father of a special needs son in desperate need of a nanny while he runs the Three M Ranch.
Cody and Molly vow to avoid one another but their children just became best friends and vowed to share their parents.
Dalyn Weller writes from a small horse ranch in Washington State. The ranchers on her dirt road are prime fodder for inspirational romance novels. Life in Washington’s wine country is full of romance with dirt roads leading to love.
Like any self-respecting PNW woman she’s a coffee snob and takes her morning mocha seriously.
Visit her website: dalynweller.com and be sure and sign up for her newsletter: Writing from the Ranch
Visit her all over social media
Comments 2
Great advice, Dalyn! Thanks for this inspiring post. Entertaining, too! Loved it!
Great tips!